Valley County approves $25,000 grant payment to McPaw's, directs separate contract for sheriff access

Valley County commissioners voted on Nov. 10 to contribute $25,000 from the fiscal-year 2026 grant program to McPaw's, a local animal-welfare nonprofit, and directed staff to update the county contract and develop a separate agreement to ensure sheriff's-office access to the facility.

Courtney, a representative for McPaw's, told the board she had expected county legal review before presenting any new contract terms to her board. The county's prosecuting attorney summarized the written opinion provided to commissioners: "It does not state that we would have to run a shelter...it does state we would have to care for the animals in a humane way." The memo, the attorney said, explains statutory requirements for animals at large but does not impose a duty on the county to…